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With persistence, drive and determination, Joelo Torres, 11-1 (7), has crept up the ladder in boxing. This junior welterweight had earned an eight round main event fight last Wednesday, March 31st at DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing in New York City, where Torres has a large fan base.
Torres, the favorite of the night, was up against Leo Martinez, 15-12 (7). For the first round Torres had it, then lost it somewhere in the rounds to follow.
Martinez was restless while Torres was showing obvious signs of fatigue. Torres was ultimately knocked out in the eighth round.
I visited Torres shortly afterward at St. Vincents Hospital where he was to be examined. The following day, I spoke with his manager Ricardo Figueroa.
Figueroa expressed massive concern about his boxer’s safety, even at the weigh in. “Joelo had to lose eight pounds to make weight and still had to pay $2000 for that pound he was over,” he said.
When asked about why the fight took a turn against Torres, Figueroa states, “As a fighter, you can’t stay in a comfort zone. Skills can only get you so far, you have to train hard no matter how good you are. Joelo could have trained harder. I know what my kid can do. He has a lot of heart. He thought he was ready, but he was done after the first or so round.”
Figueroa further explains, “Martinez obviously trained, he was conditioned, but he’s a sloppy fighter. We want Leo Martinez again. We are going to have our second chance with him because we know Joelo can beat him. He will be back stronger and better than ever. He learned a lesson.” Joelo Torres lives on determination and courage in the ring. He pushes himself and strives towards greatness. Sometimes you can not tell how deep the water is until you take a step. It can only help to pick up a lesson on the way to the top.
